Cuts to health coverage & SNAP in HR1 (OBBA)

There is no sugar coating the damage we expect the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) to cause to health care infrastructure and access to care in Washington. Just one month after this budget bill was signed into law, we’re reflecting on these key impacts:

• $1 trillion cut from Medicaid over the next 10 years.
• WA is projected to lose 26% of its Medicaid enrollees, making it one of the hardest hit states.
• At least 250,000 Washingtonians are expected to lose Medicaid coverage. In addition, as many as 150,000 Washingtonians will be priced out of the state’s Health Benefits Exchange if congress lets premium subsidies, formally called Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, expire.
• Over the next 10 years, Washington could lose one-fifth of the federal dollars it receives to run Apple Health, amounting to a loss of between $3 billion and $5 billion per year.
• Adds “work requirements” for Medicaid enrollees. Although 95% of Medicaid enrollees ages 19-64 are employed, students, caregivers, or ill/disabled in Washington, experts anticipate this will cause many to lose coverage because they will have to submit paperwork every six months to keep their insurance. 
• Washington state will lose at least $1.5 billion in hospital reimbursements by 2031.
• Requires Washington to charge $35 co-pays for previously free services.
• The largest cut to SNAP, food stamp benefits, in U.S. history, which reduces the program by $187 Billion through 2034